Rail-fastening



(No Model.)

W. F. NEVEGOLD.-

RAIL FASTENING.

No. 319,742. Patented June 9, 1885.

UNITED STATES:

PATENT F FICE.

' WILLIAM F. NEVEGOLD, on BRISTOL, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,742, dated June 9,1885.

Application filed April 20, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. NEvEeoLD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Rail-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and efficient fastening for railroad-rails; and to that endit consists of a bolt and aspringwedge of peculiar form, as hereinafter particularly described, and of the combination, in the manner hereinafter set forth, of said bolt and spring-wedge with each other and with the rails and usual fish-plates.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a rail, fish -plates, bolt, and

' fastening in accordance with my invention,

Figs. 2 and 3, perspective views illustrating, respectively, the construction of the bolt and that of the spring-wedge; Figs. 4 and 5, perspective views showing modified forms of bolt and wedge, and Fig. 6 a view showing another modification.

A is the rail, having the ordinary fish-plates, B B. Through the rail and fish-plates passes a bolt, 0, of the construction shown in Fig. 2. It has the usual head, and a shank cylindrical as to the greater part of its length, but having at a short distance from its outer end two opposite cut'away portions or recesses, c o, and presenting where thus recessed two opposite flat sides. Each recess a is terminated at that end nearest the end of the bolt by a wedgeshaped wall or projection, forming inclined shoulders d d.

D is a spring-wedge consisting of a metal plate bent as shown by Fig. 3, so as to form two spring-leaves, e 6, connected at one end, forming the point or narrow end of the wedge, and thence inclining outwardly in opposite directions. A central slot, f, of sufficient width for the flattened portion of the shank of the bolt D to fit snugly within it, divides the wedge E from its joint to ashort distance from the top into two legs or prongs, g 9. Part of the outer face of the leaf 0 of the wedge E is cut away or recessed, as shown in the drawings, so as to present inclinations h and shoulders 13, corresponding, respectively, with the shoulders d and d of the bolt 0.

When the bolt 0 is inserted through the Q3 rail and fish-plates until its head bears against the outer face of the fish-plate B, the recessed flat part of its shank projects beyond the fishplate B sufficiently to allow of the insertion between the latter and the inclined shoulders 11, on each side of the bolt, of the narrow ends of the legs or prongs g g of the wedge E. The act of driving the wedge home forces the free ends of its leaves e 0 toward each other, and the'elasticity of the leaves causes the leaf e to bear forcibly against the fish-plate B, and the inclined faces of the leaf e to bear forcibly against the shoulder d of the bolt, thus exerting a constant pull upon the latter, which keeps its head in forcible contact with the fish-plate B.

When the shoulders i of the leaf 6 of the Wedge engage beneath the shoulders at of the bolt, the latter serve as stops to effectually prevent the rising or displacement of the wedge.

The removal of the spring-wedge E, and consequent freeing of the bolt, can readily be accomplished, when desired, by simultaneously striking the upper end of the leaf 6 of the wedge a smart blow with a hammer, so as to disengage its shoulders i from the shoulders d of the bolt, and raising the wedge from below.

The flattened part of the shank of the bolt being snugly embraced by the sides of the central slot of the wedge E, the bolt is prevented from turning unless the wedgeitself be turned a result which is prevented by the forcible and extended bearing of the leaf 0 upon the fish-plate B.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a cylindrical bolt having a central longitudinal slot, 0, is employed in place of the recessed bolt of Fig. 2, and the spring-wedge, Fig. 5, is of a size to be received within said slot of the bolt. That end of the slot 0 which is nearest the end of the bolt is formed with a shoulder underneath, with which the shoulder 73 of the wedge will engage when the wedge is driven home, the face of the wedge above this shoulder and the end of the slot 0 aboveits shoulder being inclined, so that the wedge shall have a suitable bearing against the end of the slot.

- Another modification of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 6. In this case the wedge is of the construction shown in Fig. 3, and the bolt like that shown in Fig. 2, save that the outer edges of the recessed portion of the bolt are fiat. .The outer face of the fish-plate B is slightly inclined and has shoulders d. The wedge is so applied that its leaf e shall bear against the fish-plate, and when the wedge is driven home its shoulders i i will engage beneath the shoulders d of the fish-plate, and the wedge be then securely kept in place.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent p 1. The combination of the recessed bolt 0, having a shoulder or shoulders, (I, with the spring-wedge having a shoulder or shoulders, a, substantially as described.

2. The bolt 0, having a recessed portion, a, and having at the outer end of the recess shoulders d d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The spring-wedge slotted to form lugs or 20 prongs g g, and having one of its leaves recessed to form a shoulder or shoulders, i, as set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as herein described,of a railroad-rail and its fish-plates 25 with a bolt, 0, and spring-wedge D, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesr WM. F. NEVEGOLD. Witnesses HENRY BossERT, HARRY SMITH. 

